Taxi Drivers

jdbythesea · Post by **jdbythesea** » Sun 29 Jan, 2012 8:27 pm

[quotenick="raveydavey"] Jogon wrote: Black & White L&B Airport Taxi Cabs. My limited experience.Outbound from West Park, Spen Lane.Driver middle aged Asian chap in white pyjama style robes: "..err what's the best way there from here..etc.."Inbound L&BA to West Park, Spen Lane.Driver younger 20+ cheery Asian lad, casual smart attire: "...Err, I've been in Saudi for a few months, what's the best way there from here..etc..I've forgotten....."Lived in the south for many years and still knew my way round on return.Discussed this amazing double coincidence and concluded that someone who hadn't carried out "THE KNOWLEDGE" for Leeds (if -I hope - they are required to do for a licence?) was helping out driving the (licenced) vehicle that day.Uncle's cousin's brother's son. I owned and drove a black and white taxi until 2000. In order to be able to obtain a licence to operate a taxi it was necessary to undertake both a knowledge test and also a driving test in a roadworthy vehicle: the driving test was taken first and was broadly similar to a regular DVLA test.However, the knowledge test had to be learned (almost by rote) and the questions were selected at random from over a 150 preset routes. For instance from Pudsey town hall to Morley town hall or from Roundhay Park to Elland Road stadium. The answer had to be given verbally and each street, road, etc. and also each left or right turn had to be given.There were lots of wrong answers but only one correct one to each question. Both tests were taken at the Leeds City Council Hackney Carriage Office.The knowledge test applies to taxis ONLY.Private hire vehicles (aka minicabs) do not have to acquire the "knowledge" as they are not taxis. Therin lies the problem.Their journeys must be prebooked and, to avoid any argument or misunderstanding the fare should be agreed before the journey begins.An awful lot of private hire drivers (not all by any means) would not be able to find their way home from City Square without the knowledge or a reliable satnav (is there such a thing?).My advice is simple, if the vehicle does not have a rooftop TAXI sign and does not display a valid Hackney Carriage number plate, then don't get in unless you have pre-booked. The driver/vehicle and therefore the passenger are uninsured for the journey. If you have pre-booked use a reputable company.This applies nationwide and not just in our fair city.Private hire vehicles now outnumber taxis by about 10:1 in Leeds.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Sun 29 Jan, 2012 9:27 pm

Jogon wrote: Discussed this amazing double coincidence and concluded that someone who hadn't carried out "THE KNOWLEDGE" for Leeds (if -I hope - they are required to do for a licence?) was helping out driving the (licenced) vehicle that day.. I appreciate that on longer threads that there is a tendency to not read them beginning to end. The original post on this thread, by me, pointed out that lcc were thinking of introducing a "knowledge test" for private hire licences. It hasn't happened.I'm not sure how lifting the restriction on the number of hackney cab licences will lead to redundancies (but if it does I certainly hope it gets rid of those with tendencies to block boar lane, lower briggate and the Headrow between new briggate and vicar lane) but I also hope it means the knowledge will be more rigorously enforces on all cab drivers (hackney and private hire)

iansmithofotley · Post by **iansmithofotley** » Sun 29 Jan, 2012 9:41 pm

Hi jdbythesea,I agree with the points that you have made. In Leeds, until around the late 1970's, there were hardly any 'private hire' vehicles, albeit they existed in other towns and cities. The only one that I can think of, in Leeds, was Sutcliffes, in Cardigan Road. The Hackney Carriage (proper taxis) business was strictly controlled by the local Police who had a couple of staff at Belle Vue Road Police Garage, who did nothing else but control and regulate the taxis. These people were like 'god' and ruled with a 'rod of iron'. If there was any misdemeanour committed by the drivers, or any problem with any of their vehicles, then the the plate holders would be, temporarily, 'put off the road' until the problem was resolved. I can remember when they insisted (probably because of local legislation) that all taxis had to be white with a black bonnet and boot lid. Private hire firms seemed to crop up, in Leeds, in the late 1970's and, as we all know, now dominate the market and they are, now, nearly all Asian drivers and companies. I can remember the Hackney Carriage drivers in Leeds, and particularly those that worked out of the railway station, being absolutely adamant that they would keep it all 'white English' (for want of a better phrase). They had paid vast amounts of money for their Hackney Carriage plates (which were highly treasured and valued) and they wanted to keep it that way. They would not sell their plates to Asians. This went on for years until someone finally sold their plates to an Asian man. The rest is history and nearly all the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage business is now dominated by Asians.It's funny, but I have seen television programmes about taxi drivers, throughout the world, and it is amazing how many are Asian or from the Middle East - even in places like New York or in Canada.I am not trying to be prejudiced, in any way, but it is fact, that's all.Ian

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Mon 30 Jan, 2012 12:16 am

I don't think you are being predjudiced in any way Ian. You could even be more specific than asian. The advantage that most of these drivers have is that there is little risk of them "drinking and driving" because it is against their religion and most are more observant of that religion than Christians who canpartake of alcohol. Now what shall I give up for lent

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 01 May, 2012 11:02 am

Apparently there was meant to be another Taxi protest in Leeds yesterday in support of the Hackney driver's campaign to have a rank outside Leeds/Bradford airport. The protest was meant to see them driving slowly through Leeds in the rush hour traffic, both morning and evening, causing disruption.2 points.Firstly how would anybody notice the protest yesterday as that's standard form from both Hackney and Private Hire drivers anyway.Secondly and it has been covered before. How on earth do they think a Rank outside the airport is going to give VFM. It will provide a drop off point however if used as that there will be very little repeat business. It won't provide a pick up point for the same reason there won't be much repeat business on drop offs, in that very few people are going to walk off the airport to catch a Hackney cab when there is a private hire rank at the Terminal, especially if the weather is like it was over the weekend.

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Tue 01 May, 2012 10:01 pm

I was in town yesterday at the start of the evening rush hour. There was a constant stream of taxis in both directions on the Headrow, and police were directing the traffic around the Claypit Lane/Portland Crescent/Inner Ring Road slip road areas (even though traffic lights were operating, so I wasn't sure why this was necessary) as there was a bit of a traffic jam as taxis lined up to drive down the side of the Civic Hall to sound their horns as part of the protest. Further into town, there was no disruption of traffic.As I was waiting for my bus opposite the Town Hall, the "parade" of taxis dispersed very suddenly around 5.10pm. I assumed that they were going back to their normal duties in order not to lose income from people needing taxis to/from the railway station, etc.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Tue 01 May, 2012 10:41 pm

Tasa wrote: I was in town yesterday at the start of the evening rush hour. There was a constant stream of taxis in both directions on the Headrow, and police were directing the traffic around the Claypit Lane/Portland Crescent/Inner Ring Road slip road areas (even though traffic lights were operating, so I wasn't sure why this was necessary) as there was a bit of a traffic jam as taxis lined up to drive down the side of the Civic Hall to sound their horns as part of the protest. Further into town, there was no disruption of traffic.As I was waiting for my bus opposite the Town Hall, the "parade" of taxis dispersed very suddenly around 5.10pm. I assumed that they were going back to their normal duties in order not to lose income from people needing taxis to/from the railway station, etc. I was under the impression that sounding your horn, other than to warn another roaduser of your presence, was an offence.Perhaps the powers that be would like to take some action in regard to this flagrant law breaking.The airpport rank is a ridculous idea, for reasons that are very obvious and have already been covered on here. Taxi drivers are also seeking to stop deregulation of licensing in Leeds as they clam that there are already too many taxi's on the cities roads. Anyone who has experienced the delights of actually trying to hail a black and white cab, or waited at an official taxi rank at peak times might tell you otherwise...